Choosing a major is a big decision. First and foremost, your choice must interest you. If it doesn't, four years of study will be difficult to get through -- not to mention, spending the rest of your life pursuing a career. But other factors should also play into your selection, and earning potential is just one of them. A degree in advertising puts you in the middle of the pack as far as starting salaries go.

By Major

In 2012, graduates holding a bachelor’s degree in advertising earned an average starting salary of $47,700 a year, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, NACE.

By Industry

As with any degree, the choice of employer affects earnings, and advertising majors are no exception. Advertising majors working in the manufacturing industry, for example, averaged $49,700 a year, while those in finance and insurance earned an average of $50,200 a year, according to the NACE survey. Advertising majors working directly for advertising firms had the highest earning potential, making an average of $52,700 a year.

By Position

The position you hold in a company also influences your salary. Advertising majors who become writers averaged $35,600 a year as of 2012. Those hired as public relations specialists earned $38,700 a year, while those hired as advertising or promotions managers earned $51,200. Those hired as marketing or sales managers fared even better, averaging $57,200 a year.

Agency Salaries

Many advertising majors end up working directly for ad agencies, and the positions available are quite diverse -- as are the salaries. For example, an account coordinator can expect to earn anywhere from $36,250 to $50,000 a year, according to a survey by The Creative Group, a national recruiter for design, interactive and marketing talent. An account executive, on the other hand, earns $49,500 to $68,250 a year as of 2013. Account managers do even better, averaging $61,500 to $84,750 a year. As you work your way up to account supervisor, you're looking at a salary of $72,250 to $95,500, while account directors make $88,000 to $118,000. If you find yourself working an a president of an ad agency, the salary is $129,500 to $195,500 annually.

About the Author

Based in Minneapolis, Minn., Dana Severson has been writing marketing materials for small-to-mid-sized businesses since 2005. Prior to this, Severson worked as a manager of business development for a marketing company, developing targeted marketing campaigns for Big G, Betty Crocker and Pillsbury, among others.